Wal-Mart's start-up incubator Store No 8 wants to find the next big technology that will disrupt the retail industry not in the next few years, but in the next few *decades*.
Co-founder Katie Finnegan joined Cheddar to discuss the business's mission.
"What we're trying to do is incubate new ideas that are generally being driven by emerging technologies," she said. "Things that are may be too nascent for the 160 million or so Americans we, Wal-mart, serve every week, but that we believe, when it becomes a viable operational reality, will have a material step-change impact."
Among those technologies: virtual reality. Store No 8 recently held an "Innovate" event in Los Angeles highlighting those advancements. Finnegan says VR will "really change the game in terms of merchandising".
While the subsidiary aims to create businesses that will eventually be acquired by the retail giant, it also knows there could be third party options.
"We have discussed that some of these things might have revenue streams outside of [Wal-Mart] and we would definitely be open to that."
Finnegan calls Store No 8 a "unicorn opportunity" for entrepreneurs. The company recently acquired Bart Stein and the team over at Wim Yogurt. It's planning at least two more acquisitions by the end of the year.
To watch the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/wal-mart-and-the-future-of-retail).
Deiya Pernas, co-founder of Pernas Research, breaks down Nvidia’s blockbuster earnings, why energy is a sector to watch, and why the A.I. trend is far from over.
The NBA is organizing its next media rights deal to figure out which networks and streaming services will show their games for the next decade. Last time, most of the prominent streaming services didn't exist yet.
Jessica Traver Ingram, CEO and co-founder of IntuiTap Medical, discusses developing the company's Ver Touch device, the crucial FDA approval it just won, and why innovation in spinal blocks and epidurals is long overdue.
Matt Stucky, Chief Portfolio Manager of Equities at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management chats why Nvidia has been unsteady leading up to its latest earnings results, plus what’s to come for the so-called ‘Magnificent 7.’
Walmart's revenue increased last quarter because customers kept coming back again and again. Are most shoppers buying and avoid the same products as you are?
NBA champion Kendrick Perkins and Edly founder Chris Ricciardi discuss working together to create Nilly, a new platform where fans can invest in name, image, and likeness deals of their favorite college athletes.
Off the back of their latest earnings results, Hungryroot CEO Ben McKean discusses how the company is bringing healthy food straight to customers' doors and how it's using A.I.
